American Images - Midlothian 2017

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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Midlothian High School Marching Band 2017

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American Images

Intro:

The biggest task for us this year will be creating a vehicle that creates not only a clear identity for the Midlothian marching band to build behind but to create a clear memorable visual motif that is supported by the ensemble.

I began searching out visual motifs that would support the band’s clear mantra that hard work comes first. Two ideas instantly came to my head – and this American music tied with 1850’s1900’s American imagery tied to it.

Talking Point: I would like an all in for the final name. I don’t think “American Images” will be the final arrival for the show title. Keep this in mind as we move forward.

Synopsis: This show will be completely comprised of very recognizable American orchestral and band rep mixed with general imagery from early 18th century Americana. I would like to use American landscapes as outlined later in this paper for the outlying aesthetic tied with costuming for the guard that is pulled from Broadway musicals set in the 1900’s (think seven brides for seven brothers type dresses). Quilts, hand stitching, bright colors, beautiful. I don’t think this show needs to be programmatic. The visual theme will be what ties the music together – and we can create amazing visual effect moments with the musical pacing.

Talking Point: I think this is a homerun way to tie in the idea of a community that believes in hard work, but still preserve the need to create something that is beautiful.

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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Intro Material Promise of Living - Copeland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_7sFU4hxSo First minute Opener Material Savannah River Holiday – Ron Nelson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7JWhZq4C_s Ballad Material Shenandoah – Traditional - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QcB51jkAok

Closer Material Rocky Point Holiday – Ron Nelson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Em2qO0Hnpk Field Layout –

Would really like to use an asymmetrical field layout. I want to maximize our ability to create a good sense of balance with the field and also give the Jamey plenty of flexibility with the auxiliary units in terms of all his transitions. This is just an idea below:

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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I would like to consider a couple options for the field layout artwork:

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The back props would the most beautiful western mountain landscape we can find at sunset/sunrise – then we will have a digital artist brighten up the natural colors to really bring out all the purples, reds, and oranges. This color palette will look great with the Midlothian uniform and be a perfect backdrop for us to really fill the field with color throughout the show.

I could see this being either very LITERAL or not, both are below:

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

Guard Costuming/ Equipment -

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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I think that as we start to move towards what we are spinning for this show – its going to be as we develop the musical ideas. However, I would like to really vary our look through the show.

Because the auxiliary unit will be so diverse, we should really think about how we can break apart the girls to maximize our visual contrast through the entire production.

Overview:

I really think that this theme and content will be a product that your community and staff can identify emotionally. I believe that the Midlothian Band program was built on hard work and this theme really will be a wonderful vehicle that you can drive as you push to the 5A State Marching Contest Next Fall.

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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Production Outline: all timestamps are cut from the you tube links for reference

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Intro: Promise of Living – 1 min – 90 sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLM_YTnmLto

This is a moment that will bring familiar emotions to everyone watching. We could start with a woodwind quartet/quintet with all the brass/percussion hidden behind the back drops, ww’s behind the front drops and 12-16 of our best dancers filling the field to start the visual phrase.

We would have the full WW choir enter then hand off to brass choir and build into a full field impact both musically and visually.

I would want all the guard/dancers just using their dresses for this first impact. The space taken up by our full colored dresses would be a very effective visual sustain.

Intro Build layout –

Front Ensemble/WW Quartet -> WW Choir -> Brass enter -> Full impact

After the impact I would like to use a backfield brass choir in the corner of the field as the entire ensemble transitions with a kite flag that travels back field across the field directing the motion for the transition

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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This production will have much more content based effect. We will utilize section features, soloists, etc. to transition from one moment to the next to enable a high quality of performance.

I’ve clipped out several sections that I would like Michael to craft/cut together to build this part of the production. Visually this entire Production would be sustained by the guard on 6 ft flag.

The dancers will be out until the final 45 seconds only using their dresses to help deliver impact in the final push.

0-00:10 - After the transition out of promise of living – the entire brass will be set as an extension to the mountain props on side 1 to deliver the Savannah River opening statement by the brass & woodwinds call and response

0:10 -0:37 – WW technique moment with percussive interplay while brass moves to join restatement of the intro.

0:37-45 – Full field impact on restatement

5:46-6:30 – Flute & Clarinet duet will allow field to transition out of impact and setup for ending arrival.

7:20-end – final push

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j•robb designs concept paper created exclusively for: Midlothian High School

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Ballad: Shenandoah: 2:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QcB51jkAok

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We will start by the entire woodwind section stating the opening with 12-16 of our best dancers accompanying them – returned by 6-8 guard soloists answering with purple mountain flags

0:00-0:25 – First statement delivered by the entire WW ensemble accompanied by a group of featured dancers

0:25-0:60 – Brass ensemble answers with the B phrase – accompanied by a small group of guard students Talking point: We could also use the round material at 3:34 – and create the same effect, I would divert to Michael here.

4:46 – 5:30 after the brass enter the woodwinds will re-enter joining the brass stating the melody as a full ensemble building into a full field impact. During this visual build the entire auxiliary unit will add on and opening up full double swing flags entering the last visual phrase. This is the “hold your breath, oh my that is so ridiculously beautiful I love the Midlothian band moment” Out of the impact I would like a small ensemble/Soloist with front ensemble support to restate the melody as the entire field resets with a single guard member to prepare for the Rocky Point impact.

Closer: Rocky Point Holiday 90 seconds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Em2qO0Hnpk

This production will be brief – with all the content up to this point we will wrap up by tying an exciting bow in this production. After the opening impact, I have pulled out all the melodic material that I really like and would like to piece together for moments. We obviously can’t use all of these, but I would like to draw from this. We will have a more concrete idea once we finalize the first 3 parts of the show.

I like both of these ideas for inspiration as we design the silks – the quilt ties together what we have shown already, while the grain field against the sky is would be beautiful.